Charlotte O'Brien
@cobrien.bsky.social
Professor of Law, University of York (she/her). Social security; EU law; discrimination; migration; social justice.
Pinned
Charlotte O'Brien
@cobrien.bsky.social
· Nov 21
We won the ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize for Outstanding Public Policy Impact last night. An inspiring evening, learning about projects making profound differences, highlighting the power of research (see: Yvonne McDermott Rees; @richardmoorhead.bsky.social; and many more)
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Children need their families. Refugee children are no different.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Pulling up the drawbridge’: Alf Dubs criticises Shabana Mahmood’s plans for child refugees
Exclusive: Labour peer, who came to UK as a refugee, says some ministers try to show they won’t ‘just do things because of their background’
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Children need their families. Refugee children are no different.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Love that this conjures up an image of a group of special agents, deciding ‘It’s come to this. It’s time to activate Prue Leith’.
the Spectator accidentally recycled a subhed from a previous day’s article about Tehran
February 6, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Love that this conjures up an image of a group of special agents, deciding ‘It’s come to this. It’s time to activate Prue Leith’.
The more racist and xenophobic our political sphere gets, the more important this issue becomes: the residence status of our EU family members, neighbours, colleagues & friends is not safe, but could be so much better protected with a small legislative tweak. eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/23...
New Year Pop Quiz: Which of the 6 million + people with EU Settlement Scheme status has documentary confirmation that they are residing on the basis of the Withdrawal Agreement?
Astonishingly, the UK government's position appears to be: none of them. But wasn’t that the whole point of the EUSS?
Astonishingly, the UK government's position appears to be: none of them. But wasn’t that the whole point of the EUSS?
February 5, 2026 at 2:17 PM
The more racist and xenophobic our political sphere gets, the more important this issue becomes: the residence status of our EU family members, neighbours, colleagues & friends is not safe, but could be so much better protected with a small legislative tweak. eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/23...
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
ICYMI, the UK government has put forward legislation to end the cruel two-child limit social security policy.
It is a short bill that simply proposes deleting two lines of earlier legislation applying the limit.
Finally debated yesterday. bills.parliament.uk/bills/4059
It is a short bill that simply proposes deleting two lines of earlier legislation applying the limit.
Finally debated yesterday. bills.parliament.uk/bills/4059
February 4, 2026 at 1:04 PM
ICYMI, the UK government has put forward legislation to end the cruel two-child limit social security policy.
It is a short bill that simply proposes deleting two lines of earlier legislation applying the limit.
Finally debated yesterday. bills.parliament.uk/bills/4059
It is a short bill that simply proposes deleting two lines of earlier legislation applying the limit.
Finally debated yesterday. bills.parliament.uk/bills/4059
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
January 30, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
January 30, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Please read and share - evidence that the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper will increase the disability employment gap @uoyopenres.bsky.social ; @uoy-yorklawschool.bsky.social
Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk
January 30, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Please read and share - evidence that the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper will increase the disability employment gap @uoyopenres.bsky.social ; @uoy-yorklawschool.bsky.social
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
The immigration doom loop in full swing.
Chasing the xenophobes is a doomed strategy both economically *and* politically.
(1/3)
archive.ph/pyVLg
Chasing the xenophobes is a doomed strategy both economically *and* politically.
(1/3)
archive.ph/pyVLg
January 10, 2026 at 3:52 AM
The immigration doom loop in full swing.
Chasing the xenophobes is a doomed strategy both economically *and* politically.
(1/3)
archive.ph/pyVLg
Chasing the xenophobes is a doomed strategy both economically *and* politically.
(1/3)
archive.ph/pyVLg
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Why knee jerk responses from government make things worse when nobody understands the full consequences
New Year Pop Quiz: Which of the 6 million + people with EU Settlement Scheme status has documentary confirmation that they are residing on the basis of the Withdrawal Agreement?
Astonishingly, the UK government's position appears to be: none of them. But wasn’t that the whole point of the EUSS?
Astonishingly, the UK government's position appears to be: none of them. But wasn’t that the whole point of the EUSS?
January 5, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Why knee jerk responses from government make things worse when nobody understands the full consequences
New Year Pop Quiz: Which of the 6 million + people with EU Settlement Scheme status has documentary confirmation that they are residing on the basis of the Withdrawal Agreement?
Astonishingly, the UK government's position appears to be: none of them. But wasn’t that the whole point of the EUSS?
Astonishingly, the UK government's position appears to be: none of them. But wasn’t that the whole point of the EUSS?
January 5, 2026 at 2:37 PM
New Year Pop Quiz: Which of the 6 million + people with EU Settlement Scheme status has documentary confirmation that they are residing on the basis of the Withdrawal Agreement?
Astonishingly, the UK government's position appears to be: none of them. But wasn’t that the whole point of the EUSS?
Astonishingly, the UK government's position appears to be: none of them. But wasn’t that the whole point of the EUSS?
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
This started pretty much immediately, I have already heard several examples, as well as people looking to withdraw change of conditions applications and decideling not to apply. Families will be left destitute
UK immigration status fears prompt carer to cancel benefits she is entitled to
UK immigration status fears prompt carer to cancel benefits she is entitled to
Woman cancels all benefits including disability living allowance for daughter after policy change announcement
A low-paid carer from Ghana has cancelled all the benefits she is legally entitled to, including the disability allowance one of her children receives, owing to fears about her immigration status after the policy changes announced by the home secretary.
The radical changes to legal migration announced by Shabana Mahmood on 20 November will penalise those who are living and working legally in the UK, but who claim benefits. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:51 AM
This started pretty much immediately, I have already heard several examples, as well as people looking to withdraw change of conditions applications and decideling not to apply. Families will be left destitute
The Grand Place in Brussels looking pretty grand - and for the first time I got to see a massive Xmas tree in the process of being decorated (with two mini cranes!). Also did a talk the next day to lawyers, academics and people from the EU Commission, about the exploitation of posted workers btw.
November 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The Grand Place in Brussels looking pretty grand - and for the first time I got to see a massive Xmas tree in the process of being decorated (with two mini cranes!). Also did a talk the next day to lawyers, academics and people from the EU Commission, about the exploitation of posted workers btw.
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Join us for this film screening, followed by a discussion! 📽️👥
🗣️ Adrian Favell
🗣️ Pavel Bandakov
🗣️ @sarahganty.bsky.social
🗣️ @cobrien.bsky.social
🗓️ Nov 7, 4:30pm CET
📍 Budapest, Nador u. 15
Details:
👉 cutt.ly/6r3eHsOx
Registration:
👉 cutt.ly/hr3eIyW0
🗣️ Adrian Favell
🗣️ Pavel Bandakov
🗣️ @sarahganty.bsky.social
🗣️ @cobrien.bsky.social
🗓️ Nov 7, 4:30pm CET
📍 Budapest, Nador u. 15
Details:
👉 cutt.ly/6r3eHsOx
Registration:
👉 cutt.ly/hr3eIyW0
October 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Join us for this film screening, followed by a discussion! 📽️👥
🗣️ Adrian Favell
🗣️ Pavel Bandakov
🗣️ @sarahganty.bsky.social
🗣️ @cobrien.bsky.social
🗓️ Nov 7, 4:30pm CET
📍 Budapest, Nador u. 15
Details:
👉 cutt.ly/6r3eHsOx
Registration:
👉 cutt.ly/hr3eIyW0
🗣️ Adrian Favell
🗣️ Pavel Bandakov
🗣️ @sarahganty.bsky.social
🗣️ @cobrien.bsky.social
🗓️ Nov 7, 4:30pm CET
📍 Budapest, Nador u. 15
Details:
👉 cutt.ly/6r3eHsOx
Registration:
👉 cutt.ly/hr3eIyW0
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
This is grim - inc making volunteering a requirement when people are working long hours and facing high childcare costs, exacerbated by visas limiting labour mobility and no recourse to public funds, and penalising claiming benefits for those who have that option www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
High standard of English to be required for leave to remain, Mahmood to pledge
Home secretary to set out proposed tougher conditions including not taking benefits and ‘spotless’ criminal record
www.theguardian.com
September 29, 2025 at 6:57 AM
This is grim - inc making volunteering a requirement when people are working long hours and facing high childcare costs, exacerbated by visas limiting labour mobility and no recourse to public funds, and penalising claiming benefits for those who have that option www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Garden Court North's @tomroyston.bsky.social represented the two women, who earlier today won their High Court judicial review against Trafford Council's unlawful and discriminatory tax reduction scheme, which left them and many other residents with massive bills.
gcnchambers.co.uk/trafford-cou...
gcnchambers.co.uk/trafford-cou...
Trafford Council’s tax reduction scheme quashed following High Court legal challenge - Garden Court North Chambers
Two women have today won their judicial review against Trafford Council's unlawful tax reduction scheme in the High Court.
gcnchambers.co.uk
September 19, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Garden Court North's @tomroyston.bsky.social represented the two women, who earlier today won their High Court judicial review against Trafford Council's unlawful and discriminatory tax reduction scheme, which left them and many other residents with massive bills.
gcnchambers.co.uk/trafford-cou...
gcnchambers.co.uk/trafford-cou...
This is HUGE! For a lot of reasons, (it's a resounding rejection of how this council tax reduction scheme operated) but especially - a finding of a *Public Sector Equality Duty breach*!! On grounds of disability! And a warning about risks to fairness and lawfulness of automated decision making.
Really important High Court decision today, quashing a local authority’s council tax reduction scheme. The judgment contains many lessons about these schemes. Trafford's scheme was ultra vires, irrational, and unlawfully discriminatory, and breached the PSED @rightsnet.org.uk @nawra.bsky.social
![Judgment header of R (LL and AU) v Trafford Council [2025] EWHC 2380 (Admin) (19 September 2025)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5zcqf5ziw3b5qbd7znpzfczs/bafkreianq64gn3q42rev45kktyqbjy54tw3iommvspxux52sgmx2wehbdy@jpeg)
September 19, 2025 at 3:16 PM
This is HUGE! For a lot of reasons, (it's a resounding rejection of how this council tax reduction scheme operated) but especially - a finding of a *Public Sector Equality Duty breach*!! On grounds of disability! And a warning about risks to fairness and lawfulness of automated decision making.
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
We are delighted to share Conor Gearty @lselaw.bsky.social’s reflections on writing: 8 tips for surviving (and enjoying!) academic writing.
Many thanks to Conor for sharing his insights!
Article: doi.org/10.53386/nil...
Series: doi.org/10.53386/nil...
Many thanks to Conor for sharing his insights!
Article: doi.org/10.53386/nil...
Series: doi.org/10.53386/nil...
July 23, 2025 at 9:41 AM
We are delighted to share Conor Gearty @lselaw.bsky.social’s reflections on writing: 8 tips for surviving (and enjoying!) academic writing.
Many thanks to Conor for sharing his insights!
Article: doi.org/10.53386/nil...
Series: doi.org/10.53386/nil...
Many thanks to Conor for sharing his insights!
Article: doi.org/10.53386/nil...
Series: doi.org/10.53386/nil...
Did you know that the Scottish Government has immediate plans to introduce a top-up benefit for families in Scotland affected by the UK's two child limit? Short 🧵
The Scottish Commission on Social Security scrutinised the draft regulations at pace this summer & I was invited to submit observations
The Scottish Commission on Social Security scrutinised the draft regulations at pace this summer & I was invited to submit observations
September 10, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Did you know that the Scottish Government has immediate plans to introduce a top-up benefit for families in Scotland affected by the UK's two child limit? Short 🧵
The Scottish Commission on Social Security scrutinised the draft regulations at pace this summer & I was invited to submit observations
The Scottish Commission on Social Security scrutinised the draft regulations at pace this summer & I was invited to submit observations
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
I’ve been frustrated to see so much of the ongoing story about asylum seekers and the protests against them covered without hearing from those seeking asylum and now being met with hostility and hatred
I set out to speak to those directly affected to find out about the impact this is having 👇
I set out to speak to those directly affected to find out about the impact this is having 👇
We escaped war and torture but now we feel unsafe in Britain
Special report: Amid protests and rising aggression towards asylum seekers across the country, we spoke to those being targeted
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
September 7, 2025 at 6:49 AM
I’ve been frustrated to see so much of the ongoing story about asylum seekers and the protests against them covered without hearing from those seeking asylum and now being met with hostility and hatred
I set out to speak to those directly affected to find out about the impact this is having 👇
I set out to speak to those directly affected to find out about the impact this is having 👇
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
Happy publication day!
Public Law and the UK Supreme Court: www.routledge.com/Public-Law-a...
Private Law and the UK Supreme Court: www.routledge.com/Private-Law-...
Public Law and the UK Supreme Court: www.routledge.com/Public-Law-a...
Private Law and the UK Supreme Court: www.routledge.com/Private-Law-...
Public Law and the UK Supreme Court: Key Cases and Decisions
This volume brings together expert commentators across different fields of public law to comment on key decisions by the UK Supreme Court (UKSC).
Each author explores their case’s content, as well as ...
www.routledge.com
August 15, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Happy publication day!
Public Law and the UK Supreme Court: www.routledge.com/Public-Law-a...
Private Law and the UK Supreme Court: www.routledge.com/Private-Law-...
Public Law and the UK Supreme Court: www.routledge.com/Public-Law-a...
Private Law and the UK Supreme Court: www.routledge.com/Private-Law-...
Reposted by Charlotte O'Brien
(3) In follow-up, Dr Gilmore co-authored a letter with Professor David Mead (UEA Law School), published in The Guardian on 15 July 2025, warning that restrictions on jury trials threaten access to justice in protest cases.
August 1, 2025 at 3:29 PM
(3) In follow-up, Dr Gilmore co-authored a letter with Professor David Mead (UEA Law School), published in The Guardian on 15 July 2025, warning that restrictions on jury trials threaten access to justice in protest cases.